[Dixielandjazz] "Dixie"

[JimDBB at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/23/03 7:04:36 AM Central Standard Time, kash at ran.es 
writes:


> Can anyone give me some help on researching the song "Dixie"?  I've got
> it written by Daniel D. Emmett in 1860.  Recorded the likes of the
> Dukes, Ellington, Louie Armstrong, Kenny Ball, Red Allen.  I'm missing
> info on the history of the song itself.  Why was it written, etc.
> 
> My grandson has a paper to turn in on the song.  Dunno why, but any help
> will be appreciated.

   I'm not sure how right I am on this but I think that I'm close.  The song 
"Dixie" came along I think just before the Civil War.  It is a sentimental 
song about the South.

  Music played an important part in the Civil War with a number of Amercian 
classics coming out of that period.  Most of them were very sentimental 
songs, evoking home and hearth.  Dixie was one that was adapted by the South 
but was popular everywhere.  

 Racial connotations were added on to this song as time went along but they 
were never in the original intent of this song. Dixie is a powerful, a clever 
and poigant song
and still calls up sentiments of days gone by. I'll never forget an old 
march, "Gate City" that we often played on parade in the Marine Corps.  In 
the first strain the lower brass plays, "Swanee River."  The next time though 
this is repeated with the trumpet/cornets coming in with 'Dixie."  This 
always brought roars from the crowd.  I hope that one day the racial dross 
that has been stuck on 'Dixie" will drop away and this great song can take 
it's rightful place in American musicana.

Jim Beebe
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